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Louis van Gaal has said he is aiming to win the "rat race" by steering Manchester United into the Champions League. With Chelsea and Manchester City appearing certain to finish as the Premier League's top two, United are locked in a five-way battle for the remaining two places in top four with Arsenal, Liverpool, Southampton and Tottenham. United, who have budgeted to finish third, had only lost once in a run of 19 games before they were defeated 2-1 by Swansea last week, which has left United fourth, one point ahead of Southampton. Van Gaal has acknowledged that United need to beat Sunderland at Old Trafford on Saturday to ensure they keep pace with their top-four rivals. Van Gaal said in a news conference: "It is because of the rat race between five clubs that we have to win [against Sunderland] -- we have to be there [in the top four]. It is not so important now, but at the end of the season. Therefore you have to win your matches because the other clubs are winning their matches." The Dutchman said it would be "a big disappointment" if United did not qualify for the Champions League next season, although he stressed that his side are currently on course to meet their target. "When you start the season with the objective of finishing in the first four of the league it is your objective and you are occupied with doing that, but we are still there," he said. "I don't know why are we talking about it when it is not like that, because we are still there. What is the problem? "Our process is continuing and always we are going better. In spite of the many injuries we have had in the first half of the season, we are there. Also in spite of the criticism of our defence, we are there. So, we are not unhappy, but we could have better results because we are not so much playing it off the pitch. When you see our matches we are mostly the better team, but the better team is not always winning."
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